Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice **

Running time 151 mins Cert: 12A
Synopsis: Eighteen months after the destructive battle with General Zod in Metropolis, Superman (Cavill) has become a controversial figure. Bruce Wayne (Affleck) who witnessed the death and destruction vows revenge on the Man of Steel.

Director Zack Snyder has had mixed results with his films. His first film the remake of ‘Dawn of the Dead’ was an impressive debut. While ‘Watchmen’ and ‘300’ were faithful, but incredibly dull adaptations. ‘Sucker Punch’ had a great concept and soundtrack but was a complete mess. ‘Man of Steel’ was fairly entertaining, but the plot is dragged on for far too long and the finale just becomes an overblown special effects fest.

Unfortunately the filmmaker has still not learned from his mistakes and if anything ‘Batman Vs Superman’ suffers even more problems. The character of Superman is even more dour, arrogant and unlikeable since the last time. This movie has even more complex special effects, and an over complicated plot which only reports to really being a setup for a Justice League movie (a DC version of the Avengers).

Screenwriters David S. Goyer (Man of Steel) and Chris Terrio (Argo) make a good decision building the movie around the collateral damage of ‘Man Of Steel’s’ climax. But the motivation for why both parties dislike each other makes little sense. The other thing is did we really need yet another Bruce Wayne backstory which has already been highlighted in every reiteration. They have also added too many characters with hardly anyone apart from the two leads given enough screen time past 10 mins.

Henry Cavill certainly looks the part and there is nothing really wrong with his performance it is just the way the character has been written and the way he has been directed.

On the other hand what is impressive is considering what he has to work with, Ben Affleck makes a great, vindictive and brooding Batman that it is completely different to Bale’s interpretation.

Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman is a wonderful addition, but very underused. Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor appears to want to out perform Kevin Spacey and Gene Hackman with a fairly annoying performance, but at least he and Jeremy Irons who plays Alfred bring much needed humour and fun to this lifeless comic book movie.

Instead of The Dark Knight Returns adaptation, that comic book fans longed for they have been treated to a convoluted mess.